Cars & Hybrids

A new study from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies has identified on-road transportation as the most significant overall source contributing to global warming. Power generation, while having the greatest total impact, also includes a large number of compounds that increase cloud reflectivity and provide other effects to offset some of the warming they are responsible for.

In the study, rather than looking at specific chemicals and compounds, the range of airborne pollutants is broken down by economic sector. The study looks at the range of gases and aerosols that are released by each of 13 sectors of the economy, and finds that on-road transportation has the greatest overall effect on global warming.

"Cars, buses, and trucks release pollutants and greenhouse gases that promote warming, while emitting few aerosols that counteract it. The researchers found that the burning of household biofuels - primarily wood and animal dung for home heating and cooking - contribute the second most warming. And raising livestock, particularly methane-producing cattle, contribute the third most. On the other end of the spectrum, the industrial sector releases such a high proportion of sulfates and other cooling aerosols that it actually contributes a significant amount of cooling to the system. And biomass burning - which occurs mainly as a result of tropical forest fires, deforestation, savannah and shrub fires - emits large amounts of organic carbon particles that block solar radiation."

The intent of this study is to make the information about climate change more accessible and understandable. "We wanted to provide the information in a way that would be more helpful for policy makers," according to Nadine Unger, leader of the research team. "This approach will make it easier to identify sectors for which emission reductions will be most beneficial for climate and those which may produce unintended consequences."

No one should mistake the point of this study to indicate that coal burning and other power-generation and industrial processes are benign and therefore do not need to be scaled back. Although industrial processes mitigate their adverse effects with regard to global warming, the sulfates and aerosols that are beneficial in this one manner are responsible for a range of other, negative environmental impacts.

The paper was published online on Feb. 3 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

via: Worldchanging

Consumer Reports's latest car issue lists the most reliable fuel-efficient used cars on the market. That reminds us that for fuel efficiency, for "sticker" price, and often for reliability, used cars are a better value than new cars, even the most fuel-efficient models.

Of course, as Consumer Reports notes, even used cars can cost upwards of $20,000 - not exactly cheap, especially since you can get at least seven fuel-efficient 2010 cars for under $20,000.

Here's a look at Consumer Reports' top five fuel-efficient used cars under $10,000, along with the mileage you can expect (complete list).

1. 2000-01 Honda Insight (manual) - 51 mpg (pictured)
2. 2001-2004 Toyota Prius - 44 mpg (2004 only; otherwise 41 mpg)
3. 2000-05 Toyota Echo - 38 mpg
4. 2003-05 Honda Civic Hybrid - 36 mpg
5. 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback (base, manual) - 34 mpg

If you like to buy American or worry because of recent Toyota recalls, then go for the 2000-02 Chevrolet Prizm, which at 32 mpg, is the only American car to make the list of under-$10,000, reliable, fuel-efficient used cars.

But buying a used car can be more challenging than buying new, for those who don't consider themselves car buffs. It takes more research (try edmunds.com to start). How do you know you're getting a good value? And who can you turn to if something goes wrong?

That's what makes the Consumer Reports list invaluable.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

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There is a basic contradiction in the phrase "green SUV." That hasn’t changed, but SUVs have nonetheless evolved along more environmentally friendly lines, especially as they've hopped off truck platforms and become much more car-based. Some of these SUVs are as fuel-efficient as cars. And it certainly helps that many are now available as hybrids. Soon, we’re likely to see plug-in hybrid SUVs — with 40 to 50 miles of all-electric range.

The new SUVs are called "crossovers," and they've been skyrocketing in popularity as consumers become more interested in fuel economy. According to Edmunds.com, price spikes in 2008 sent crossover sales soaring 50 percent over 2007 levels. Compact cars also saw a jump, as large SUVs plunged 20 percent in the first five months of 2008.

The most popular small SUVs today combine utility with sedan ride and handling and near-30-mpg mileage. In many cases, minivans are a good alternative to SUVs and provide better fuel economy and space utilization, but the "soccer mom" tag is death to many consumers.

Here are seven of the most fuel-efficient SUV crossovers:

 

Ford Escape Hybrid

You’ll pay a $9,000 premium over the base Escape for the $30,000 hybrid version, but you’ll be buying probably the most fuel-efficient SUV there is (32 mpg combined).

The Escape (the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is a close cousin) has enjoyed success as a New York taxi, and it’s proven quite durable. U.S. News and World Reports ranked it seventh of 22 affordable compact SUVs.

All-wheel drive is available, but you probably don’t need it and fuel economy suffers. There are Base and Limited models, with the latter adding a fair number of creature comforts — and more than $2,000 to the bottom line.

 

 

 

 

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Believe it or not, Porsche will introduce a hybrid SUV in 2010, a version of its performance-oriented Cayenne with a 150-mph top speed and a rumored 27 mpg.

Would Porsche make a minivan?

 

 

 

 

 

Volkswagen Touareg

For the rest of us who can’t afford a Porsche, a Volkswagen SUV alternative is soon to arrive.

The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg BlueMotion Hybrid uses a supercharged V-6 engine and a hybrid system that will also be shared with Porsche, in this case the four-door luxury Panamera sedan.

Like the Cayenne, it’s fast (zero to 60 in 6.2 seconds) and gets around 26 mpg combined (in the European cycle).

 

 

 

 

Honda CR-V

This is Honda's venerable workhorse small SUV, and it has remained justifiably popular (though it is due for a makeover; this version dates to 2007).

The good news, however, is that for 2010, the CR-V (starting at $21,545) was significantly freshened, and Honda achieved the neat trick of both getting 14 more horsepower out of its 2.4-liter four and improving fuel economy to 21/28 mpg (2WD) and 21/27 (4WD).

Other choices offer an optional V-6, but Honda likes what the four offers. Road noise has also been reduced in the 2010 model.

 

 

 

 

Toyota RAV-4

Like the CR-V, this midsized crossover at $21,675, the RAV4 is a survivor, dating from the mid-1980s, with little alteration to the basic small-and-utilitarian concept.

This is one of the rare instances where it might makes sense to go for the bigger engine, since the available V-6 sacrifices little in terms of fuel economy (but adds nearly 100 horsepower and a 7.2-second zero to 60 time).

The four-cylinder 2WD RAV4 clocks in at 24 mpg combined, and its V-6 big brother 22. But you’re fine without the 4WD.

 

 

 

 

Subaru Forester

Not much changed in 2010, the $20,295 Subaru Forester (a favorite of greens with stuff to move) is, says Consumer Reports, "among the best small SUVs."

Stick with the base 2.5-liter four, which offers lively performance and 22 mpg overall. If you feel you need it, the XT model adds turbocharging but declines to 20 mpg.

The Forester is perhaps the most carlike of these choices, and like all Subarus it comes with 4WD. The back seat has room to stretch out, and is one of the best things about this small car, which has enjoyed excellent reliability ratings.

 

 

 

 

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid

This is BMW’s first full hybrid vehicle, and it’s a luxurious but pricey choice at $89,725.

This is an SUV for performance-oriented techies, since its big twin-turbo V-8 produces 400 horsepower, and they are supported with a pair of beefy electric motors (480 peak horsepower total). There is no better option for zero to 60 in just 5.4 seconds while carting around a Cub Scout pack.

Take it up to 130 mph if you dare, then throttle back and go 1.6 miles on the nickel-metal-hydride batteries alone. Fuel economy is much better than the standard X6, but still no Environmental Defense Fund member’s dream at 17 in the city and 19 on the highway.

Carbon emissions are down 20 percent from the standard car, but they’re still double that of a Toyota Prius.

 

(Photos courtesy of each car maker.)

 

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• 10 Easy Ways to Save 20% on Gas Every Day

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

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If you've been yearning to own a Tesla Roadster, but can't afford the six-figure price tag, the car company will start leasing their popular electric sports car for a minimum of $1,658 a month, meaning you probably still can't afford it.

The three-year, 30,000-mile contract requires $12,453 at signing, which includes a $9,900 down payment and a $895 acquisition fee.  Then at the end of the lease you'll need to pay a $350 disposition fee and $.25 for every mile you go over the 30,000 mark.  Plus you'll owe for any wear and tear on the vehicle.

So, what could possibly be the perks of this fee-laden lease agreement?  During the lease, you have full access to the Tesla Ranger service squad that will make house or office calls to perform inspections, firmware upgrades and maintenance, and you have the chance to drive the sexiest EV on the planet before they halt production in 2011.

Could those reasons make a car lease that costs as much as a mortgage worth it?  Well, that's up to you.

via Earth2Tech

British Airways has announced that it will start producing jet fuel from landfill waste to reach its target of 50 percent reduced emissions by 2050.

The airline is partnering with biofuels company Solena to construct a waste-to-energy fuel plant in East London that will turn 500,000 tonnes of organic waste into 16 million gallons of jet fuel per year.  The fuel will be made by treating the the waste in a high-temperature gasifier to create BioSynGas which is then converted to jet fuel using the Fischer Tropsch process.  The plant will also create a by-product of 20 MW of electricity per year and have the added benefit of keeping waste out of landfills.

British Airways is only committing to use a 10 percent blend of the biofuel at this point, a disappointment when you consider the successful test runs of 50/50 bio-jet fuel blends.  The airline plans to start using the fuel by 2014.

via Treehugger

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Navistar are testing drag-reducing devices that could cut big rig fuel use by 12 percent, or 3.4 billion gallons a year.  The devices would fit into the areas of the truck that produce the most drag, making it more aerodynamic and reducing the energy needed to propel the truck.

At highway speeds, semi-trucks use more than half of the energy from their engine overcoming drag.  With these devices placed at crucial points like the trailer base, underbody and the space between the tractor and trailer, the drag is significantly reduced.  The fuel savings amount to a reduction of 36 million tons of CO2 emissions a year - the same as four 1-GW power plants - and a cost savings of $10 billion a year for the U.S. trucking industry.

The LLNL's devices, along with other commercially-available ones, are being tested at NASA's Ames Research Center in the world's largest wind tunnel where researchers hope to coax even greater fuel efficiency through the large-scale testing.  Trucks could be retrofitted with the devices in as little as three years.

via GreenBiz

 

Ford Motor Company has taken another step forward in adding electric vehicles to their fleet by announcing an all-electric version of their Transit Connect van. The conventional version of the Transit Connect was named Truck of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. A small number of electric Transit Connect trucks will be available later this year, with subsequent production levels to be based on demand.

The truck is an all-electric vehicle, and is targeted at commercial uses such as route driving with fairly regular, predictable driving. However, Ford has also said that they "would not exclude retail sales" for the van.

The electric Transit Connect has an expected range of 80 miles from a 28 kWh lithium ion battery pack. It is designed to recharge at a 240 volt charging station over a period of 6-8 hours. Charging from a 120 volt supply is also possible.

via: Ford press release

The Denny's Grand Slam breakfast Super Bowl commercials could have doubled as environmental ads, if only the message was about free range pastures, rather than overworked laying hens.

And while it may not have lived up to the standards of that Doritos kid slapping his mom's date, one of the funnier Super Bowl commercials was for the Audi A3 TDI, which gets 34 mpg of diesel fuel, and was chosen as Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal.

Even clean diesel, though, is not as clean-burning as gasoline. The Audi A3 produces 15% more carbon in a year than either the Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry hybrid, which also get 34 mpg. It emits 9% more than the Toyota Yaris, which burns gasoline in a conventional engine and gets 32 mpg.

But the Audi A3 TDI still achieves impressive mileage, and we haven't seen a better commercial for any of those other comparable models:

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

While the most fuel-efficient Toyotas at were not among the recall models associated with the growing sudden acceleration problem, the Prius is now suspect because of the feature that makes hybrids hybrid: regenerative braking.

The regenerative braking problems that has prompted the Japanese government to order Toyota to investigate its popular hybrid, the Prius, may not be unique to that country.

There have been more than 100 complaints from U.S. car buyers about 2010 Prius brakes made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least two of which resulted in injuries:

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR; HOWEVER, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKE WOULD RESPOND. SHE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE THREE TIMES; DURING THE SECOND FAILURE THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND AND SHE COLLIDED INTO A VEHICLE AND INJURED HER NECK. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN SHE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN GOING INTO AN INTERSECTION AT A REASONABLE RATE OF SPEED. WHILE I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. THIS SAME BEHAVIOR HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE I'VE OWNED THE PRIUS 2010 MODEL. IT SEEMS TO SKIP FORWARD OR ACCELERATE WHILE BRAKING ON A DOWNHILL OR UNEVEN SURFACE. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP I THE AIRBAGS HAD GONE OFF AND I HAD HURT MY NECK AND BACK. IT IS A NEW VEHICLE THAT NOW HAS ALMOST $14,000 DAMAGE AND WON'T BE FIXED FOR A MONTH. IF ANYTHING, I'M AN OVERLY CAUTIOUS DRIVER AND WONDERING WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT.

Is this problem limited to the Prius, or is it a problem associated with regenerative braking more generally? At least one complaint has also been filed about the 2010 Toyota Camry hybrid.

Here's the complaint:

CAMRY HYBRID 2010. BOUGHT NEW AND COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA OF SURGING FORWARD INCONSISTENCY DURING MY DAILY TWO HOUR COMMUTE. I ASKED IF THEY PLANNED TO FIX IT DURING MY LAST SERVICE VISIT AND THE ANSWER WAS "NOPE." WHEN ASKED THAT THEY DO FIX IT, THE ANSWER WAS, "NOPE!". YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IN APRIL WHEN THE PEDALS ARE GOING TO BE FIXED. I HAVE HAD NIGHTMARES OF SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE. THIS IS NOT THE CAR I THOUGHT I PURCHASED MONTHS AGO.

And at least one complaint has been filed about brakes on the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, but none about the Ford Escape hybrid.

Here's the Fusion complaint:

I BOUGHT A 2010 FORD FUSION HYBRID ON MAY 23, 2009 FROM CROWN FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE, NC. ON MAY 27, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE BREAKS SUDDENLY HIT THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS MINIMAL RESISTANCE. I EVENTUALLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A HALT IN A PARKING LOT. IT WAS TOWED TO CROWN FORD AND THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY AIR IN THE BREAKS AND THE CAR WAS NOW SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. 4 DAYS LATER ON MAY 31ST WHILE I WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT, THE BREAKS WENT TO THE FLOOR/FAILED AGAIN AND I HAD TO UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO MANEUVER IT TO A SAFE PLACE. CROWN FORD SAID IT WAS THE WIRING THIS TIME. I DO NOT THINK FORD KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAS THIS NEW REGENERATIVE BREAKING SYSTEM. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT AS SOON AS MY FUSION HYBRID WAS "FIXED" AGAIN, I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND TRADED IT IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I WOULD NEVER PUT MY KIDS BACK IN THAT CAR AND AM WORRIED ABOUT OTHER FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO BUY THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.

Of the other hybrids on The Daily Green's list of most fuel-efficient cars and SUVs, there have been no registered complaints for the Honda hybrids, the Accord, or the Insight; the Mercury hybrids, the Milan, and Mariner; the Lexus HS 250h hybrid, or the Nissan Altima hybrid.

Will this problem engulf the hybrid market? It's too early to tell, but stay tuned.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

Italian port cities are planning to connect large ships like cruise liners to the grid while they're berthed to cut fuel consumption and potentially slash carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent and nitrogen oxides and particulate pollution by more than 95 percent.

Venice, Paolo Costa, La Spezia, and Lorenzo Forcieri are all expected to install new equipment to allow the ships to plug in to shore-side electricity.  Other cities around the world are experimenting with the same idea, including Los Angeles and Goteborg, Sweden, hoping to eliminate the fuel needs and emissions of onboard generators.

The Italian electricity utility Enel foresees large reductions in pollution and fuel consumption from the practice, but since so far only a few ships are compatible with on-shore electricity, we won't know the full benefits until ports and ships are equipped and the generators are turned off.

via Green Inc.